Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has strongly criticised Israel following an airstrike that killed a journalist and injured another in southern Lebanon.
The incident occurred in Al-Tiri, a town in southern Lebanon, raising fresh concerns about press safety and the fragile ceasefire in the region.
In an official statement, Aoun accused Israel of repeatedly targeting journalists, describing the attacks as an attempt to suppress information about ongoing military actions.
He said such actions violate international humanitarian law and called for urgent global intervention to protect media workers in conflict zones.
The victim, Amal Khalil, was a reporter with the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. She reportedly died after being trapped under debris caused by the airstrike.
Local media reports indicated that rescue teams initially struggled to reach Khalil due to heavy damage at the scene.
Another journalist, Zeinab Faraj, who was with Khalil during the incident, sustained injuries and was later transported to a medical facility for treatment.
President Aoun expressed condolences to Khalil’s family and extended solidarity to the staff of Al-Akhbar and the wider Lebanese and Arab media community.
He also wished Faraj a swift recovery, emphasising the importance of protecting journalists during armed conflicts.
The attack occurred despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon which was implemented recently after weeks of escalating cross-border hostilities linked to the broader Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The development has raised questions about the effectiveness of the ceasefire and the safety of civilians and journalists in the region.
